This is where we stayed in Burnsville, North Carolina ... at the Nu-Wray Inn

Here is a photo of my dear friend Denise Williams! Knitting by the fire was a nice warm spot. It surely didn't feel like the beginning of spring! BRRRR (See the sock yarn drying near the fire? It all was dyed earlier in the morning ... and yes! I did mix up all the dye for the project!)

Here, Lorie Bush (left) and Chris Sheets (center front) work on securing their roving into the water-soluble paper for later felting in the dryer. In the background center is Tina Hilton and to the right is Martha Marking.

Have you ever wanted to spend an entire weekend doing nothing but knitting and playing with wool? Well, that's what it was like for three fantastic days this past weekend! From dyeing sock yarn to preparing wool for felting ... from learning new stitches to new patterns ... all while getting to stay in a creaky, old bed and breakfast with lots of history! I'll post more later, but wanted to get a few photos up and running while I had a moment to myself!

Sunday, March 16, 2008

I recently won several lots of vintage Christmas cards (unused, of course!) from eBay. They are everything I had hoped! Gorgeous die-cut designs, glitter and sparkles and golden accents. I decided I am going to send vintage Christmas cards every year from now on (or at least as long as I can continue to find unused, clean cards, anyhow). They have so much more personality and character than the sad, glossy cards of today. What a shame they don't make the lovely cards anymore.My sister sent me a new digital camera! So as soon as I load on the software and figure out how to use it properly, I'll take photos of some of the more special cards. I know, I know ... thinking about Christmas cards in March??? Well, it never hurts to be prepared!

Saturday, March 8, 2008

We all love to eat Chick-Fil-A sandwiches. The classic ones. WITHOUT pickle. In the past, we have gotten pickle-tainted sandwiches ... where we knew the sandwich had, at one time, been covered with a pickle or two, but these were hastily removed and sent on as though they had been pickle-less from the start. But we could tell at once that they hadn't been pickle-less. They were poisoned by the vinegar-pickle taste and there was nothing to be done.I made it a habit when ordering to actually say, "Could I have (however many) Chick-Fil-A sandwiches, no pickle, no pickle juice, and no pickle pieces, please." But after about a year or so, I thought maybe they could recognize my voice, so I eventually stopped being so specific.Well, the other day, we ordered the same, classic sandwiches, no pickle. We brought them home and each person picked out his/her sandwich and began to eat. All of a sudden, Kent cried out in disgust, "There's got to be a pickle in here! It tastes awful!"We opened up his bun to find not one pickle, not even two pickles, no ... not three or four ... not even five or six, but SEVEN! SEVEN pickles were on his sandwich!!! We couldn't believe it! We started laughing! Amelia grabbed his bag and turned it over to see the familiar red sticker that usually says, in big, bold letters, NO PICKLE. But this time, it said, "EXTRA PICKLES!"

Sunday, March 2, 2008

When Mr. Migraine finally takes his leave ... for some reason, the smell and feel of clean sheets is just wonderful!! Taking a hot shower and washing your hair feels fantastic!!!I have a love/hate relationship with the day after the migraine goes away ... I feel numb, like I need to walk on eggshells or the headache might come back ... but it feels so good to have it be gone that I'm euphoric!Sometimes I wonder if my migraines will ever go away for good. I surely wish they would.

Please Don't Steal

I have shared photos and patterns of the projects I come up with for you to use, free of charge, but I ask that you do not post the photos or the patterns anywhere without my name and/or my permission. These projects are all intended for your own personal use only... not commercial or otherwise for sale!

Maggie Our Bearded Collie

About Me

I was a writer/columnist ... who became a stay-at-home mom ... who morphed into a homeschooling mom ... who took up knitting while waiting for my children at chess tournaments ... and caring for my elderly parents. I opened my online shop, http://www.thepatternbox.com in 2008. (Check it out for more of my designs!) Leisure Arts published "Storybook Dolls to Knit," my book of walkabout puppets, in 2011. My newest adventure: A grandson!